Kasauli forest fire reaches near Air Force Station; IAF deploys Mi-17, Chinook helicopters to douse flames

Kasauli forest fire:  A massive forest fire broke out in the forests of Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district, triggering panic after the flames rapidly spread towards a nearby Indian Air Force station amid intense heatwave conditions prevailing across North India.

The fire, which reportedly started in the forest area surrounding Kasauli, quickly intensified due to dry weather and strong winds. Authorities said the blaze engulfed a large stretch of forest land within a short span, prompting emergency response teams to launch a major firefighting operation.

As the flames advanced dangerously close to the Air Force Station in Kasauli, the Indian Air Force stepped in and deployed two helicopters, a Mi-17 and a Chinook, to assist in controlling the fire in the difficult hilly terrain.

The helicopters have been carrying water from Chandigarh’s Sukhna Lake and dropping it over the affected forest areas in an effort to contain the rapidly spreading blaze. Officials said the aerial firefighting operation was initiated after ground teams struggled to control the fire due to the inaccessible terrain and worsening conditions.

Teams from the Forest Department and Fire Brigade, along with several fire tenders, remain stationed at the site and are continuously engaged in firefighting efforts. However, despite ongoing operations, the fire had not been fully brought under control till the latest reports.

Meanwhile, another forest fire incident has been reported near Rajhana village on the outskirts of Shimla. Following the alert, Forest Department officials and fire personnel rushed to the spot and began efforts to prevent the flames from spreading further.

The incidents come at a time when North India is reeling under severe heatwave conditions, locally referred to as ‘Nautapa’, which has significantly increased the risk of forest fires across hill states including Himachal Pradesh.